New 4x4 Gear: Cel-Fi signal booster, ICOM VHF transceiver, ARB Frontier tank

There is no better form of escapism than going off-grid, but getting lost in the great and wide countryside can be dangerous for the unprepared.

Thankfully there are plenty of 4x4 gear on the market right now that got your back if you plan on going far.

Cel-Fi GO Pack

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For those off-road tourers after maximum communications range, the Cel-Fi GO Pack is ideal. It is designed to boost and distribute a weak 3G or 4G mobile signal in remote areas and features a 100dB of system gain. The unit supports voice and mobile internet for multiple mobile devices and minimises the chance of dropped calls or a slow internet connection.

The 1200mm antenna is a GME AT4705B (698-960/1710-2170 MHz, 7/2.5dBi gain) and comes with a 4.8-metre low-loss coaxial cable. Also included is an adhesive internal antenna measuring three metres, and a 12V cigarette lighter DC lead of five metres. The system is locked to Telstra’s mobile network and has a band selection button, plus there’s a Bluetooth WAVE app for smartphones and PCs.

RRP: $1165.95
Website: www.powertec.com.au

Icom IC-M330GE

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High-end radio manufacturer Icom has released a new VHF marine transceiver. The IC-M330GE includes an inbuilt GPS receiver (an IC-M330E, without GPS receiver, is also available) a clear full dot-matrix display, hand mic, new speakers for clear audio, an inbuilt Cass D DSC that monitors CH70 continuously (even when receiving another channel), and is IPX7 waterproof.

The unit is compact – 156.5mm wide x 66.5mm high and 110mm deep – so is ideal for watercraft with limited cabin space. The user interface is straightforward and is a combo of soft keys and directional keypad. The IC-M330GE (and E) also features AquaQuake, which prevents the audio being affected even when the speaker is waterlogged. It’s available in black or white.

Website: www.icom.net.au

ARB Frontier Tank (Pajero Sport)

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Frontier tanks are designed to increase the fuel capacity of your vehicle, by replacing the original equipment with a seamless, one-piece tank that is shaped to fit within the existing voids on the underbody of the vehicle.

These tanks are tough, too, thanks to the use of crosslink polymer construction. This is a lightweight material that is designed to flex under impact rather than puncturing. With a wall thickness of 8mm, the Frontier is incredibly durable and is a full replacement system, meaning you don’t have to rely on dual fillers or a fuel transfer setup.

The Frontier tank for the Sport offers a claimed 58 per cent increase in capacity for Mitsubishi’s popular mid-sizer, bringing total capacity up to 100 litres.

Website: www.arb.com.au

Mutiny on the Bounty

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One of the great historical stories of the past two centuries, the April 1789 mutiny on the HMS Bounty is recreated by renowned Australian author Peter Fitzsimons.

The author recounts the events preceding the mutiny in exacting detail, as well as the mutiny itself and both Bligh’s and the mutineers’ (led by Fletcher Christian and accompanied by Tahitian men and women, as well as the crew members) journeys after that event.

The mutineers eventually settled on previously undiscovered Pitcairn Island; their descendants reside there today. It’s a cracking yarn as usual from Fitzsimons, filled with drama and intrigue that sees the reader come to respect all parties involved in the mutiny and its aftermath.

RRP: $50 (hardcover); $20 (ebook); $40 (audiobook)
Website: www.hachette.com.au